European Commission - Daily News Daily News 10 / 02 / 2026 Brussels, 10 February 2026 Commission partially registers European Citizens' Initiative on the protection of stray dogs, stray cats and animals in shelters Today, the European Commission has partially registered a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), entitled ‘ EU initiative to protect stray dogs, stray cats and animals in shelters in the EU/non-EU countries'...
European Commission - Daily News Daily News 10 / 02 / 2026 Brussels, 10 February 2026 Commission partially registers European Citizens' Initiative on the protection of stray dogs, stray cats and animals in shelters Today, the European Commission has partially registered a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), entitled ‘ EU initiative to protect stray dogs, stray cats and animals in shelters in the EU/non-EU countries' . The initiative invites the Commission to “ strengthen the protection of stray dogs, stray cats and animals in shelters in the EU and to ensure that EU action in third countries does not contribute to animal suffering ”. The organisers call for further restrictions on “ the use of dogs and cats for scientific purposes ” and for “ EU trade, association and financing instruments ” to “ be designed in such a way that EU funds, trade benefits or cooperation will only be granted if minimum standards for the protection of dogs and cats are respected” . The organisers also consider that “ sustainable, humane measures ” should be promoted. The Commission considers the parts of the initiative that fulfil the formal conditions established in the relevant legislation legally admissible under the European Citizens' Initiative Regulation . The Commission has not analysed the substance of the proposals at this stage. The partial registration does not influence the Commission's final decision on its merits, or any potential action it may take. The Commission will take a decision on the initiative only if the organisers collect at least one million signatures from EU citizens. More information can be found in the press release. (For more information: Maciej Berestecki - Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83 ; Antoine Lomba – Tel: +32 2 299 32 33 ) Commission partially greenlights Slovakia's seventh payment request for €658 million under NextGenerationEU Today, the European Commission partially greenlighted Slovakia's seventh payment request for €658 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility , the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. This is an important step in the delivery of the reforms and investments tied to this payment request, in the areas of green and digital transitions, education, healthcare, and business environment improvements . The Commission found that Slovakia has satisfactorily completed 17 out of 18 milestones and targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision . It has now sent its preliminary assessment of Slovakia's fulfilment of the milestones and targets required for this payment to the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), which has four weeks to deliver its opinion. In parallel, the Commission has communicated to Slovakia the reasons why it considers the above- mentioned milestone not to be satisfactorily fulfilled. Slovakia now has one month to submit its observations to the Commission. A press release is available online . (For more information: Maciej Berestecki — Tel.: + 32 2 299 66483; Anna Wartberger – Tel: +32 2 28 20 54) EU and Egypt launch initiatives for sustainable energy cooperation Today, the European Commission announced two projects in Egypt worth a total of €124.3 million , aimed at advancing renewable energy in the country. €34.3 million will support the Sokhna Green Ammonia project , to accelerate the development and deployment of green hydrogen and related renewable energy initiatives. The other €90 million will contribute to the Egypt Grid Modernisation and Expansion programme , which intends to help Egypt meet its 2030 renewable energy target by adding 22 GW of clean energy to the country's grids. Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica , said: “The Mediterranean has vast, untapped renewable energy potential. We will soon launch T-MED, our key initiative under the Pact for the Mediterranean, to support our partners through win-win investments that attract private funding and strengthen cooperation across the region. By helping projects move forward and making investments safer, we are unlocking major opportunities, while building stronger links between countries.” The projects will be implemented under the upcoming Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean-Tech Cooperation Initiative (T-MED) initiative of the Pact for the Mediterranean . They are being presented today at the ‘ Egypt's Sustainable Energy Outlook 2040: Cooperation for Shared Prosperity ' conference in Cairo, co-hosted by the EU and the Egyptian government which are currently developing strong cooperation in the field of renewable energy under the EU-Egypt Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership Agreement . The Pact aims to mobilise large-scale private investments through the upcoming T-MED Investment Platform, to unlock the renewable energy potential of the region with high-impact projects in the renewable energy, electricity grids and clean tech manufacturing sectors. (For more information: Guillaume Mercier - Tel.: +32 2 298 05 64; Luca Dilda - Tel.: +32 2 295 21 53) Commission seeks feedback on review of audiovisual media legislation The European Commission has launched a public consultation to assess the impact of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and explore options for its review. The AVMSD coordinates national legislation across the EU for all audiovisual media, from traditional TV broadcasts to on-demand services and video-sharing platforms. This review, planned in the Commission work programme for 2026 , aims to simplify and adapt the audiovisual media rules to a rapidly shifting media landscape, as highlighted in the European Democracy Shield . Core priorities include streamlining advertising rules, improving the level playing field between traditional and new digital players, and strengthening the protections of minors on video-sharing platforms. Furthermore, the Commission aims to secure the prominence of media services of general interest while improving coherence with other EU laws, notably the Digital Services Act . The consultation is organised in four distinct pillars: scope and enforcement, audiovisual commercial communications, protection of viewers and strengthening of media diversity in the internal market. Feedback is invited from across the spectrum, including citizens, Member State authorities, companies and industry, consumer organisations, non-governmental organisations, including media freedom organisations, associations of journalists, and academic institutions. The consultation remains open until 1 May 2026. It is currently available in English, and all other EU official languages will follow shortly. (For more information: Thomas Regnier - Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Patricia Poropat - Tel.: +32 2 298 04 85) Commission launches competition rewarding best projects supported by EU cohesion policy Today, the European Commission kicks off the ‘ 2026 REGIOSTARS competitio n' for outstanding projects supported by the EU's cohesion policy. This competition, showcasing the positive impact and inclusivity of regional development, is recognised as Europe's label of excellence for EU-funded projects and is now open to all beneficiaries of cohesion funding under five categories: ‘A Competitive and Smart Europe'; ‘A Green Europe'; ‘A Connected Europe'; ‘A Social and Inclusive Europe'; and ‘A Europe Closer to the Citizens'. In addition, a Public Choice Award will be granted to the finalist project receiving the highest number of votes from the public. The competition will offer projects' promoters the opportunity to share experiences on how different regions solved common economic, social and territorial challenges and contributed to Europe's integration and prosperity. Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto said: “ The REGIOSTARS Awards recognise the most outstanding Cohesion Policy projects that deliver tangible positive impacts in their regions. They showcase how Europe supports development, drives progress, and makes a real difference on the ground. I encourage all exemplary projects to apply for this year's REGIOSTARS competition.” Applications must be submitted online by Friday, 22 May 2026. More information about the application process and on the winners of past editions is available online. (For more information: Maciej Berestecki - Tel: +32 229-66483; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha – Tel: +32 229-52117) Commission clears acquisition of Groupe Bertin by Chequers and Fremman The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Groupe Bertin Technologies S.A.S. (‘Groupe Bertin') by Chequers Partenaires S.A. (‘Chequers'), both of France, and Fremman 2 GP Luxembourg S.à r.l. (‘Fremman') of Luxembourg. The transaction relates primarily to high-end scientific instrumentation. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies' limited market positions resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website , in the public case register under the case number M.12274 . (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Paula Clara Ritter-Moschütz – Tel.: +32 2 296 40 83) ANNOUNCEMENTS Executive Vice-President Fitto in Slovakia to discuss regional development On Wednesday and Thursday, 11 and 12 February, Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto will visit Bratislava, Slovakia, to discuss the implementation of the Commission's cohesion policy and regional development priorities with national, regional, and local authorities and visit projects backed by EU funds. On Wednesday, the Executive Vice-President will meet with Prime Minister Robert Fico, Acting Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Drucker, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Denisa Saková, to discuss economic development priorities. He will also hold meetings with representatives of Slovak regions and municipalities. The Executive Vice-President will also meet with Minister of Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation, Samuel Migaľ, focusing on the progress of cohesion policy implementation, challenges faced by regions on the EU's Eastern Border and future perspectives for regional policy beyond 2027. Together with Minister Migaľ and Minister of Transport Jozef Ráž, the Executive Vice-President will visit an EU-Funded railway project at Bratislava Main Station to see the future station reconstruction plans. On Thursday, Executive Vice-President Fitto will meet with Mayor of Bratislava, Matúš Vallo, to discuss urban development and regional investment priorities. (For more information: Maciej Berestecki - Tel: +32 229-66483; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha – Tel: +32 229-52117) APPOINTMENTS Commission appoints a new Director in its Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy The European Commission appointed today Davinia Wood as the Director for Budget, Communication and General Affairs within its Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO). This department is tasked with supporting the economic and social development of all regions of the European Union. This decision takes effect on 16 February. With over 20 years of experience in strategic management, policy coordination, and international relations, Ms Wood brings a robust track record in advancing key EU initiatives. Her expertise spans a diverse array of domains, from advising the European Commission on security external challenges to working on the internationalisation of European industries, sustainability, innovation and research budget. Ms Wood excels in fostering collaboration among EU Institutions, ensuring that communication through policy documents, speeches, and briefings remains consistent, precise and timely, reinforcing robust relations with the Commission's counterparts. Her noteworthy leadership in team management highlights her strategic, organisational, and operational capabilities. This extensive experience equips her with the insight required to lead the Directorate for Budget, Communication and General Affairs at DG REGIO effectively, developing and pursuing actions leading to the strengthening of the EU's economic, social and territorial cohesion with the objective of promoting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Davinia Wood, a Cypriot national, is currently serving as Head of Unit for Political Coordination, Strategic Management and Interinstitutional Relations and HR Correspondent at DG REGIO. She previously served as Head of Unit in charge of Policy Coordination and Interinstitutional relations Unit at the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC). Prior to this, she was Head of Unit for International Affairs at the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME). She also served as Member of Cabinet for Christos Stylianides, former Commissioner responsible for humanitarian aid and crisis management. She joined the European Commission in 2003. (For more information: Maciej Berestecki - Tel: +32 229-66483; Isabel Otero Barderas - Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25) Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings Note that these items can be subject to changes. Upcoming events of the European Commission Eurostat press releases Calendar items of the President and Commissioners Individual calendars of the President and Commissioners MEX/26/371
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